Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Oregon Vietnam Veterans Living Memorial at the Hoyt Arboretum

…Continued from Hoyt Arboretum.

IMG_2355 Oregon Vietnam Veterans Living Memorial - Garden of Solace at Washington Park in Portland, Oregon on February 15, 2010
Oregon Vietnam Veterans Living Memorial on February 15, 2010

The Oregon Vietnam Veterans Living Memorial within the Hoyt Arboretum was conceived by five veterans and the parents of a Marine killed in Vietnam after they returned from the dedication of the national Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. in 1982.

IMG_2356 Oregon Vietnam Veterans Living Memorial - Garden of Solace at Washington Park in Portland, Oregon on February 15, 2010
Oregon Vietnam Veterans Living Memorial on February 15, 2010

They were joined by other veterans and volunteers as they chose the site and design and raised money for its construction.

IMG_2358 Oregon Vietnam Veterans Living Memorial - Garden of Solace at Washington Park in Portland, Oregon on February 15, 2010
Oregon Vietnam Veterans Living Memorial on February 15, 2010

The Oregon Vietnam Veterans Living Memorial was dedicated in 1987.

IMG_2360 Oregon Vietnam Veterans Living Memorial - Garden of Solace at Washington Park in Portland, Oregon on February 15, 2010
Oregon Vietnam Veterans Living Memorial on February 15, 2010

The memorial begins at the circular Garden of Solace, which is dedicated to the 57,000 Oregonians who served in Vietnam from 1959 to 1976.

IMG_2361 Oregon Vietnam Veterans Living Memorial - Garden of Solace at Washington Park in Portland, Oregon on February 15, 2010
Oregon Vietnam Veterans Living Memorial on February 15, 2010

A spiral path up a steady, gentle slope circles around the Garden of Solace.

IMG_2362 Oregon Vietnam Veterans Living Memorial - Garden of Solace at Washington Park in Portland, Oregon on February 15, 2010
Oregon Vietnam Veterans Living Memorial on February 15, 2010

Spaced along the path are six granite walls inscribed with the names of Oregonians who were killed or listed as missing in Vietnam, as well as mentions of various events that occurred in Oregon during the time period of each wall.

IMG_2364 Oregon Vietnam Veterans Living Memorial - Garden of Solace at Washington Park in Portland, Oregon on February 15, 2010
Oregon Vietnam Veterans Living Memorial on February 15, 2010

At the last wall at the top of the trail there is a view of the overall memorial.

IMG_2363 Oregon Vietnam Veterans Living Memorial - Garden of Solace at Washington Park in Portland, Oregon on February 15, 2010
Oregon Vietnam Veterans Living Memorial on February 15, 2010

From there, the trail leads beyond the memorial to connect with the Wildwood Trail, which meanders through the Hoyt Arboretum for 3 miles before leading to Forest Park to the north and serving as part of Portland's 40 Mile Loop trail network.

This concludes the original content of my PORTLAND PLACES: Washington Park page. To see additional blog entries about Portland, click on the Portland label.

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